06 August 2023 , 22:59
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Prince Andrew is unlikely to ever move out of Royal Lodge - despite alleged protests from King Charles - having "weathered worse storms", an expert claims.
The Duke of York and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have lived at the property in the grounds of Windsor Castle for decades. Earlier this year it was reported the pair could move to nearby Frogmore Cottage. The smaller home is within the same grounds but around five miles away - and was previously gifted to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle by Queen Elizabeth II after their wedding.
Andrew, 63, stepped down as a working royal after his car crash BBC News Night interview in November 2019, in which he denied regretting his relationship with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. A reduction in his annual grant has raised questions as to how he will afford the upkeep at Royal Lodge in the coming years. But this doesn't seem to have deterred him.
King Charles is said to be keen for his brother to move out of the royal house (Getty Images)However, royal biographer Andrew Lownie told Express.co.uk that the move does not seem to be happening, as his "rivalry" with Charles goes back further than the property issue. He said: "I can’t see them moving. Andrew is stubborn, obsessed with status, has a contract with Crown Estate and sufficient money to support upkeep. He’s weathered worst storms. I fear part of a longer narrative and rivalry with King Charles going back to childhood and involving appearances on balconies, protection and roles for his daughters."
In their childhood Andrew acted as the 'spare' to Charles's 'heir', a dynamic that has also haunted the younger generation, contributing to the breakdown of the relationship between Princes William and Harry.
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Royal Lodge sits within the grounds of Windsor Castle (Roland Hoskins/ANL/REX/Shutterstock)As they are further down the line of succession Andrew's daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are not working members of the Firm, meaning they are not entitled to state-funded security and have to financially support themselves. Any potential move from Royal Lodge has been postponed as a result of Fergie's recovery from an eight-hour mastectomy, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine mammogram.
The question of Andrew's lease also complicates the situation, as in spite of the reduction in his grant he signed a contract for 75 years which he intends to honour, according to the Telegraph. As part of his living arrangement Andrew agreed that he would cover the cost of renovations on Royal Lodge, which have stretched to £7.5million.
If his lease is terminated before it is due to expire, the property would revert to the Crown Estate and Andrew would be entitled to compensation of just under £7million for the refurbishment costs he has already covered. It has been said that Royal Lodge was "earmarked" for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their young family, who are currently based at Adelaide Cottage close to Windsor Castle. However William and Kate have only been living at the cottage less than a year, with OK! reporting that the couple had confirmed their intention to stay put.